The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-09
OPEN OR SHUT.
me 1re"f Car window Question
PhilOsophicsIIy Considered.


a recent warm discussion in the
newspapers upon the rights of pas.
sengers in railroad cars TO the control
oil the windows, Is an interesting
contribution To a very interesting
department of inquiry that of man,
ners upon the road.
The immediate question arose from
The frequent experience of the ,rny-
eler who finds the window near him
or In front of him opened TO admit
either the icy arrows OF the winter
air or the dust and smoke and cindcrs
which eNasperato the heat Of the
summer. Is the unfortunate passon.
ger who sits behind bound to submit
to the yolloys Of pneumonia or of
phthsiis which his forward neighbor
insists upon discharging at himp Or,
may he rightfully summon the con.
ductor or the brakeman and have
lnstice done by closing the Window
mo offending neigbbor contends
mat he requires fresh mir, aud that
ms rearward companion has no right
to compel him 10 he suflocatcd In
nolsomo atmosphere. Moreover, he
declares that his ncighbor also has n
window, which he can control NJ
pleasure, and that only members Of
the great Hog family would insist
upon managing every window in the
car at their pleasure
Sir Lncius would enjoy the prctti.
ness OF the quarrel, rs Il thus stands.
anu II IS certainly not one ~ easy
adjustment, for II becomes at once
extremely complicated. There arc
probably two persons upon every
scat Now, is tue absolute control
oi the window necessarily invested
IN the traveller who sits next To il.
and II 80, 10 which window in the
ear has his neighbor on the outside
ui the seat a righlP Agar II the
outer passenger ON the seat behind
enjoys the open window in front. and
his fellow on the same seat detesls II.
how shall the dissent be- compounded?
u three or four declare for the open
window, and the consumptlve fourth
objects, ought the majority a. rule.
ar ought the vigorous inhnicrs of
oxygen To submit 10 Inconvenience
IN order Ia save the nttcnuated neigh.
Dor from a fatal whin9 such ii.
lommas arise upon all sides. Who
Is The ghtiul master Of the window?
The passenger who sits next 10 Il |
has an immense advantage 1T posi-. |
ton, and with broad back and oh. |
noNious elbows he can rcpcl flank
attacks, aud even direct assaults for
come time. The window itself also |
Is hi. nllN. for II he wishes il closed |
II usually sticks fast, aud Il he wishes |
u open u Is very sure 10 refuse Ia
come down. Meanwhile the entire
company IN the car take sides. Tine
part Of them declares that life with |
nut fresh air u disease aud speedy |
death; the other part allirms that |
health aud comfort ATE not 10 be- ruth.
lcssly sacrificed 10 abstract theories.
aud unless some ardent friend uf
fresh air thrusts his arm through the |
window aud makes shutting Il Inn.
possible, the war sccs no immediate
end. One iugcniou, skirmishcr,
however. suggests clever parr, nf
the pneumonia blast nj the cost II it,
promoter. Hold newspaper, he
SAYS. lust ut the back NJ the offender
against the side oi the open window
In front Ut you, aud tho whole con.
drmncd blast will cnrrm against Il
aud pour dust, ashes. cindcrs. smoke
aud pneumonia over the culpft HIM.
self This dcNicrous cNpcdicnt hc
aver, that be- has tired with great
success.
Bu
state IT perpetual war II Is au h..
tcrncrinr condition of railroad travel
which Implies relapse ~ barhari,m.
Indeed. 10 Il The harbarpns instinct
which j. the source of every iorm nj
ill manner. upon the road they all
spring from the savage convection
that . y man doesn't take care 1T
himself nobody will take care nt him.
II b. 70 prrvcrsiun ~ he dncttinr of
The survival uf the iiitr.i 1his feel
iuw extends not only in the opening
ui ear windows. Int iu entering the
senate IT the United Ninirs. \
senatorial man was told that Il be-
dii not push himself fur The place.
nobody would push him "lrs. he
answered "bul ! thought this office
ought ~ seek the man. ~ '''Non.
.rnsc.' was tho reply; "nonc 1T
YOUR metaphysics II you want to
90 Ia the Senate YOU must show that
you want 10 GO. Nobody will help
yuu toa place that apparently you
don't rarc iui" The gentleman had
no wish io iaui.h the prize which
attracted him inr The very reason
that II was untarnishcd. aud ilfrVal
who proved that be- wanted II h,
treating The hoy.' aud hy intriguing
with other seeker, Of loot. haggcd
the booty.
KTnc persuasion tina, II man docs
mo- assert himself he will be- put
upon j. The secret Ut much 1T the
universal .clHshnr,, ot which the cat
window controversy i an illustra.
lion. The controversy cannot br
quickly settled hy any means but
courtesy II 10 4 polite request Ia
close tie window, because ui the dis.
comfort oreyou peril To health which
Il opened Il will produce. there be- NO
reply bu; that you eau do what you
please with your own window, oT
that the doponcnt has no intent ON
IT submitting a. a,phy Ma, or that II
YOU don't like your seat YOU can take
another, or briefly aud compcndious.
~. that dcponont hopes he knows
IA. own business u there be- no ~.
ply but some form Of this rciort,
mere are but four courses 10 pursue.
YOU NAV submit quietly. 90 You may
.'saicc' back. or you may resort Ia
the newspaper screen, or You may
rcsoluioly grapple With the win.
dow aud try conclusions OF main
strength with the llolioBlol IN
front VI you. The last course q
gentleman is reluctant 10 undertake.
but the seen" ha, great attractions,
aud NAV sooihr perth bed temper
Combined with tranquility, IL would
seem 20 be- the better method. except
IN extreme case' II man is not